What Got You Here Won’t Get You There – Breaking Through Career Plateaus: Why Past Success Won’t Guarantee Future Growth
The Workplace Problem: Why Do High Performers Struggle to Advance?
Many professionals excel early in their careers, only to hit a plateau when they try to move into leadership roles.
HR professionals and executives often see high achievers struggle with leadership transitions because the skills that made them successful as individual contributors aren’t enough to succeed at the next level.
So how can leaders evolve beyond their past habits to reach the next stage in their careers?
What This Book is About
In What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world’s top executive coaches, explains why successful people often unknowingly hold themselves back—and how they can break free from self-limiting behaviors.
The book reveals the key leadership habits that must change for executives, managers, and rising leaders to grow, adapt, and succeed in new roles.
Key Takeaways for HR and Workplace Leaders
Success Can Breed Complacency – What worked in the past won’t always work in new leadership roles—growth requires constant learning and adaptation.
The "21 Bad Habits of High Achievers" That Hold Leaders Back:
Winning too much – Always needing to be right or come out ahead.
Adding too much value – Over-correcting or micromanaging instead of empowering.
Passing judgment – Criticizing rather than coaching.
Making destructive comments – Saying things that hurt morale.
Starting sentences with "No," "But," or "However" – Subtly dismissing others’ ideas.
Telling the world how smart you are – Focusing on self-importance over collaboration.
Speaking when angry – Letting emotions control reactions.
Neglecting to express gratitude – Taking contributions for granted.
Refusing to apologize – Prioritizing ego over relationships.
Failing to listen – Assuming you already know the answer.
Feedback is a Gift—But Many Leaders Ignore It – Strong leaders actively seek feedback and adjust their behavior, rather than assuming they’re always right.
Small Behavior Changes Lead to Big Results – Leadership transformation doesn’t require dramatic reinvention—it’s about adjusting daily habits that shape how others perceive and trust you.
Future Success is About Influence, Not Just Intelligence – Advancing in leadership requires emotional intelligence, collaboration, and humility—not just expertise.
Workplace Tools and Models from the Book
The "Feedforward" Coaching Model – Instead of focusing on past mistakes, focus on future improvements.
The "Daily Questions" Self-Reflection Exercise – A method for identifying and tracking personal growth areas over time.
The "Active Listening for Leaders" Framework – How to improve communication by prioritizing understanding over responding.
The "Stakeholder-Centered Coaching" Approach – How leaders can use direct feedback from colleagues to improve their leadership style.
Why This Matters for HR and Workplace Leaders
HR professionals and managers frequently help employees transition into leadership roles—but many struggle with the mindset and behavioral shifts required. What Got You Here Won’t Get You There provides strategies to:
✔ Coach high performers on what leadership actually requires.
✔ Help leaders recognize blind spots in their behavior.
✔ Reduce micromanagement and increase delegation skills.
✔ Create a company culture that values continuous personal growth.
How This Connects to Workplace Assessments and Restorations
Many workplace assessments reveal leadership behaviors that need adjustment, such as:
Managers struggling to delegate because they always “know best.”
Executives losing influence because they dismiss others’ ideas.
High achievers failing to advance because they rely too much on old habits.
By applying What Got You Here Won’t Get You There principles, HR leaders can help teams and executives grow into more effective, adaptable leaders.
How Can You Apply This?
➡️ Are high achievers in your organization hitting a leadership plateau?
➡️ Do executives and managers resist feedback or struggle to adjust their behaviors?
Helping leaders evolve beyond their past habits is essential for long-term career growth and business success.
Where to Buy
Interested in reading What Got You Here Won’t Get You There? You can purchase it here:
📚 Amazon
📚 Marshall Goldsmith’s Official Site
